Coriander Powder (aka Dhania powder) is an essential ingredient in almost all Indian Recipes including Kadhai Paneer, Punjabi Bhindi Masala, Matar Paneer, Gobhi Matar and many more. It is used extensively in Latin-American and Mexican cooking too. Coriander Powder is made from freshly roasted Coriander seeds. Though Coriander Powder blends into the flavors of the dish and does not have a flavor that distinctly stands out so that one does not feel its presence, you would certainly feel its absence in the reduced flavors of the dish if the Coriander powder is not added. Besides being a taste additive, Coriander Powder has a lovely, mild aroma that stimulates one's appetite. Also, Coriander Powder has great medicinal value too - it has many curative and cooling properties and aids digestion.
Coriander Powder is easily available in any Indian store. However, the powder loses a lot of its flavor & aroma within a few days after its preparation, so the pre-packaged powder is but a shadow of its fresh version. Hence, it is quite common for household cooks to prepare their own Coriander Powder & store it in an airtight container. This can be done by purchasing Coriander Seeds (also easily available in any Indian store), roasting the seeds briefly on a dry pan and then crushing them in powder form using an electric grinder or mortar-and-pestle. I always prepare my own Coriander powder using seeds - making enough to last a few days after which I make a fresh batch, and slight extra effort is overwhelmingly out-weighed by the flavorful results.
Coriander Powder is easily available in any Indian store. However, the powder loses a lot of its flavor & aroma within a few days after its preparation, so the pre-packaged powder is but a shadow of its fresh version. Hence, it is quite common for household cooks to prepare their own Coriander Powder & store it in an airtight container. This can be done by purchasing Coriander Seeds (also easily available in any Indian store), roasting the seeds briefly on a dry pan and then crushing them in powder form using an electric grinder or mortar-and-pestle. I always prepare my own Coriander powder using seeds - making enough to last a few days after which I make a fresh batch, and slight extra effort is overwhelmingly out-weighed by the flavorful results.
6 tbsps Coriander seeds
How to make Roasted Coriander Powder
- Place a non stick pan on medium heat.
- Add the coriander seeds & dry roast till they are slightly darker in color and fragrant. Do not let the seeds turn dark brown. Immediately remove from heat & let them cool completely.
- Grind into a fine powder using a spice grinder / Dry coffee Grinder.
- Store in an airtight container.
Tips:
- I use Dry Coffee Grinder to grind it into a fine powder.
- Roasted Coriander Powder can be stored in an airtight container for several months.
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